My dad is 83 and lives with me and my husband. I am so exhausted from having to stay up late or get up before the crack of dawn just to have some alone time. Sometimes I am rude to him because he gets up early right after me and I can't be alone with my coffee and thoughts. I feel so guilty for being "mean" to him. I just miss having some quiet me time. Does anyone else feel like this?
That went on for a few nights before she got up from the couch on her own and said, I'm going to bed now. I nearly dropped! I believe (I don't know this because she's not verbal) she didn't like going to bed without my tucking her in and playing the music on the CD.
In the afternoons, I take a nap. She doesn't like being out here without anyone, so she goes in to take a nap, announcing it for the entire world to hear.
One other chore I don't do is cook elaborate meals. By elaborate, I mean anything over thirty minutes. Every meat I cook is baked for thirty minutes @ 350 in a pan on foil that I can throw away. You can do this for boneless chicken, fish, small pork chops, pretty much anything. I never peel potatoes anymore. It may be more expensive, but there is just the two of us, and the small portion of salt she is going to get out of that serving is minimal. All vegetables are frozen. Desert can be sugar free Jello with Cool Whip for her. I sneak the good stuff later.
My mom is on a very strict diet because of heart/kidney/diabetic issues. Davita has been a great site for me, showing the food she can eat. I've modified my way of cooking them to suit my time limits. Flat breads are good for sandwiches as long as fillings aren't too much for her to chew. Soups are good, and it's where my thirty minute limit isn't practiced. Some pea soups can be made in pressure cooker. I do mine in slow cooker. Again, no huge amount of time spent preparing, and in the slow cooker, no need to constantly watch.
There are so many things that can be dropped off the to do list is you're willing to let them go. My house doesn't always look that great, but hey, it's either me or the house. For now, I'll take me.
I checked with my county today and found out that they offer respite care, visiting nurse and meals on wheels. This is something new as I have looked before about a year and a half ago. Check with your county of city. I'm going to look into respite care. Unlike some of you who have no help, I have a great lady who lives with us, but she can't work 24-7. I can only afford 25 hours per week, but she often goes beyond that. We are both needing some respite at this point. Mother has taken quite a downward turn since she turned 103. In fact all of 2014 has been a downhill slide. We love them so much it's hard to watch them wither away. The strong loving parent is reduced to a mentally deficient weakling.
Love O
The other thing I do is to stay up very late while the house is quiet. I get up to a couple of hours that way. I can sleep late when her care-giver prepares breakfast sometimes.
I never tire of this meal because I have different veggies and sometimes I invent different dipping sauces. If you like cheese; make a cheese sauce. Keep it whole and simple and fast. I like a Thai inspired vinegar, water, Sweet Chili sauce combo too.
Another easy meal is cut up roasted root vegetables. Cut up brussel sprouts in halves, slices of beets, sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, chunks of cabbage, slices of onion and garlic: toss with a little olive oil and salt it all slightly. Put in oven for about 40-45 minutes on 375. Check it halfway through and give it a stir. Easy peasy and fun to eat. I dumped the leftovers into a simple salad the next day. After that the last bit livened up some leftover turkey soup.
Cooking doesn't have to be hard.
Eating raw as much as possible is so important and so easy.